The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

30 The Health Bulletin May, 192",
A pain in the back is a sisii of Ividnoy
disease, if we are to believe kidney
pill advertisements. Hair tonic may be
recommended by a bald-headed barber
but men continue to rub it into the few
remaining hairs in hopes that a silky
down will soon cover the head.
Many men seek health through physical
culture. Salacious magazines advertise
numerous "Professors'' who will,
for the small sum of thirty dollars.
teach you their "system." If you wait
long enough the course will be sold for
five dollars. These modest "professors"
pose in a leopard skin and show the
world how well developed they are.
These bare torso boys are not in business
for your health. The magazines
in which they advertise are not what
is known as accepted health literature.
I mentioned communicable diseases
as causing ill-health in college men.
There are a great number of adult
women with rachitic pelves from
rickets in infancy. A rachitic pelvis
makes childbirth very dangerous. In
fact, the mortality in childbirth in
women with rachitic pelves is excessive.
The adult woman fails too often to
get in touch with her physician when
she becomes pregnant. She needs instruction
in diet, posture, shoes, sex
life, clothing, etc. She should have her
urine examined regularly. Very few
women take this precaution. They
figure that childbearing is a simple
physiological process. It should be.
They fail to realize, however, that they
have not been living a physiological
life. Childbearing then, is a time for
taking stock of their physical condition.
Numerous conditions must be considered.
The doctor can advise the pregnant
mother just what she should do
in order that she will bear a healthy
child. The Chicago Health Bulletin,
published by the city health department
carried a number of splendid
bulletins on child care (during the prenatal
period and after this period) that
are quoted by many other states. This
is a step in the right direction. More
education is needed for the adult men
and women of today in order that they
may preserve their own health and
the health of their children.
Weeding-Out Process
I have mentioned some of the health
conditions found among the college students
of today. It must be understood
that very few students who enter the
first grade in the elementary school
ever reach college. There is an economic
weeding-out process eliminating
many students from college. Ordinarily
one Avould expect to find a healthy
group in our colleges. At the University
of Illinois we have 600 male students
in our corrective classes. That does not
mean that we have all those who
should be taking corrective work. We
have those who we can benefit and
some of the worst cases who, though
we cannot correct their condition, are
given protective work in order that
their condition will not be aggravated.
In this last mentioned group will be
found the heart cases, hernia cases,
and those with sunken arches.
The corrective group presents a
queer picture. Many of these students
have never played. They are poorly
developed muscularly and organically
and some are overnourished. They have
not fitted into the ordinary high school
athletic program and consequently have
had little or no physical education.
Their parents, in many cases, are of
the studious type who have never
played.
The health habits of this group are
faulty. Matters of personal hygiene
are neglected. Many undernourished
students fail to secure suflicient rest
and sleep. Improper foods and hasty
eating prevent the body from securing
the much needed nourishment that
should come from food. Fully ninety
per cent of the college students are not
in good health. They are not bedridden,
but their health is not that exuberant
health and organic vigor that
should be found in the "flower of our
youth."
Like Father, Like Son
Many college students portray the
examples of their parents. They walk
with their feet turned out, and consequently
invite foot disturbances. Their
postures are poor, and the subsequent
mal-alignment of the body parts invite
organic disturbances and fatigue. They
are nervous, as are many of their highstrung
parents. The average woman